A NASTY virus turned teachers and pupils into zombies as a school prepared for the summer holidays.

But fortunately year seven pupils at Wolsingham School managed to save the day by putting their language skills to good use.

The gruesome event unfolded as part of the school’s annual festival of language when the spoken and written word was celebrated through the theme of horror and the supernatural.

Staff staged an outbreak of a brain-devouring virus that tragically transformed mild-mannered teachers and angelic children into moaning zombies.

The ensuing chaos allowed for all students across the school to take part in a themed lesson created to help develop and practise writing and discussion skills.

Year seven pupils rose to the challenge and solved riddles and clues to complete a survival treasure hunt, created by able and talented year nine students, to find an antidote that saved the school and stopped the virus spreading across Weardale.

Cara Corrigan won an annual spelling bee and a big book quiz was won by Sara Graham, Jasmine Banks and Peggy Leach.

The school also hosted reading for pleasure sessions led by Seven Stories- the National Centre for the Children’s Books and horror writing workshops.

The school hosts the event to engage all students, including those who do not already love books, with literature and as a fun day towards the end of the school year.